Phoenix Custom Electronics Dirty Boot (dB)

One knob for boost, one switch to add in a germanium clipping stage, one internal trimmer controlling the volume. Only thing is, with the germanium engaged, there's a volume drop so you've got to open it back up and set it to where you need it. That being said, it's a boost pedal, not an overdrive, so it's meant and designed as a one-setting push for your signal line. You'll end up either using the germanium or not, it won't be the kind of pedal you tweak between or during songs. So overall it's a very simple pedal to use, a real pleasure to integrate onto the board.

I've had the pedal for a couple months, and due to the nuanced nature of a great boost, I'm choosing to review it with only a portion of my gear. For now I'm focusing on this pedal's character with my Firebird and Sg Jr. into a tweed Bassman. The Firebird has a P-90 in the bridge, same as the SG. I'll post back later with more findings on my other kit. For now this applies to the Firebird and SG exclusively, thru the '59 Bassman.

First off the pedal isn't a completely clean boost in either setting. It is transparent in regards to it not masking your guitar's tone... in fact it's invisible in that respect, but it adds a good dose of personality to the overall EQ. In the straight boost mode there's a nice complexity across the midrange that keeps you from getting lost in the mix. Tastefully boosts the lower mids, almost the exact opposite of a Tubescreamer's dramatic nasal quality. This pedal gives a bit of "throat" instead. Tightens up the lows and fattens up the highs in a big way. All this adds up to a major grunt factor with the P-90's, lots of muscle and attitude. On the neck mini in my Firebird, sweetness is the word of the day. It's a bright pickup in general and this pedal accentuates that without adding any razors to the overall tone. Very smooth and singing, very cool. When you kick in the germanium, it builds on all the aforementioned goodness and softens/compresses it in that very distinctive germanium way. It's like how I'd imagine a Rangemaster that's eq'ed to every frequency instead of the high(er) end. It's almost a fuzz, almost an overdrive, but mostly just its own thing. There's a cool aggression about it... like Val Kilmer in Tombstone. It bypasses the garage-y aspect of a fuzz but has a lot more balls and personality than a standard OD. I emailed Alex after I first got it and told him that with the germanium engaged it made me want to bust out every hard rock riff that ever came out of Motor City. As roundabout as that analogy is, I think it fits... you'll get it when you hear it. If you're into the idea of a fully bitchin' and far more muscular germanium boost than anything else on the market, email Alex and ask him to send you one of these with the Germanium circuit included. Also worth mentioning, this pedal lives and breathes with your guitar... it responds to your touch, where you pick, how you pick, volume, tone... everything is more dramatic with this pedal on and it encourages you to play up another level of emotion with your playing.

This pedal is a winner because, just like the SuperNova, it doesn't try to be anything else. It's just its own thing, and that says a lot about Alex and how confident he is in his designs and, ultimately, his ears. That's the whole point in the end, is that you've got a real guitarist with a very fine sense of tone making a pedal with you, for you.

Very clean work inside and out, I've used and abused a PCE SuperNova for a few years. These pedals are world-tour type reliable.

Anybody whose dealt with PCE knows that their service is absolutely unreal. Their attention to detail and what you want to achieve with your own pedal is staggering. With both the SuperNova and Dirty Boot, I emailed and pestered Alex for ages before sending him the actual funds and only ever got quick, polite and involved replies. He clearly reads your question thoroughly and will answer it and take it to the next level. You get all the details with Alex. Old-school customer service where they actually care if you're happy. Top marks, I can't recommend this company enough.

I play rock n' roll day in and day out. I just dig music altogether, and try my best to bring some soul into whatever I can. Hard rock, soft rock, rockabilly, pop, funk, surf, acid freak-outs... as long as it's not too trendy and there's real people playing I'm into it at least one day out of the week. Into the specific side of things, I mostly play my originals with a lot of big suspended chords and oddball intervals. This pedal is super defined, super articulate. It not only lets me play my way, but it's so good that it's just encouraging to play my stuff when it sounds like this. If I lost everything in a fire and had to start from scratch again, I'd start my board with this fella right here. It's always on because it just makes things sound better.